The Paul Lambert thread - poll reset after our capitulation to Hull

[ChicagoLion]

Problem there though is that once we're into the summer, he'll have one year left. If we didn't extend his contract, the media start speculating, the players start to wonder what's going on and any potential signing has to ask whether the manager's staying. I agree that it was premature when word about the new contract broke but barring a disastrous last 9 games, I don't think they've got any choice at this point.

I think the issue for me is length, I think another 3 years is pretty generous given some of the hidings we've taken. I'd give him another two years and then have a third year dependent on sufficient league progress.

I was wavering a few weeks back but the two contrasting home wins has got him back in credit. Hopefully we don't go back to the turgid rubbish against a physical team like Stoke tomorrow.

Now I think we'll see over the next 12 months how good a manager Lambert could be or if mid table in the premier league is his glass ceiling.

In terms of squad numbers we are fine so we don't need another 7-8 cheap punts. If finances allow we need 3-4 quality players in and above all some midfield creativity!!

He might also be faced with having to replace a key player in his reign for the first time if Benteke leaves. As we've seen in the last 4 years that isn't an easy thing to do.

Targets for next season? Hopefully we can push on a bit and be in the group with Newcastle and Southampton and not being 13 points off them. At least then we wouldn't be a million miles off the top 6. Oh and a stop to embarrassing cup defeats would be good aswell!

given some of the hiding some teams have taken this season especially considering the amount of money those teams have spent on players I think we need to give some credit to the entire management staff at Villa for improving us as much as they have. Nobody has given us a hiding this season and we've played all of the big teams. This was the biggest issue in the summer and for the most part it has been fixed. We aren something like 8 or 9th best defence in the league now.

Obviously the next steps are to improve the home form which in turn will bridge the gap to the teams 6th to 9th. With the right investment this is very achievable. We are going in the right direction even if sometimes we take a step or two back to go forward. But that comes with a squad and club in transition that is developing an identity. We're developing something positive at the club even if we've had take a few on the chin to get there.

Losing 4 - 1 to Sturke is a hiding

[ChicagoLion]

I guess after last weeks witch hunt the Lambert doubters can have their say again.

[PeterWithesShin]

Witch hunt. Good grief.

[eastie]

The players have shown how well they can play - I think a better manager would get more out of this squad and not neccessarily have to start again from scratch - today was totally abysmal .

[ez]

I'm starting to think that what we're seeing this season is as good as it's going to get with Lambert. I hope i'm wrong but mid table might be his limit.

[ChicagoLion]

Witch hunt. Good grief.

Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.

[Toronto Villa]

Problem there though is that once we're into the summer, he'll have one year left. If we didn't extend his contract, the media start speculating, the players start to wonder what's going on and any potential signing has to ask whether the manager's staying. I agree that it was premature when word about the new contract broke but barring a disastrous last 9 games, I don't think they've got any choice at this point.

I think the issue for me is length, I think another 3 years is pretty generous given some of the hidings we've taken. I'd give him another two years and then have a third year dependent on sufficient league progress.

I was wavering a few weeks back but the two contrasting home wins has got him back in credit. Hopefully we don't go back to the turgid rubbish against a physical team like Stoke tomorrow.

Now I think we'll see over the next 12 months how good a manager Lambert could be or if mid table in the premier league is his glass ceiling.

In terms of squad numbers we are fine so we don't need another 7-8 cheap punts. If finances allow we need 3-4 quality players in and above all some midfield creativity!!

He might also be faced with having to replace a key player in his reign for the first time if Benteke leaves. As we've seen in the last 4 years that isn't an easy thing to do.

Targets for next season? Hopefully we can push on a bit and be in the group with Newcastle and Southampton and not being 13 points off them. At least then we wouldn't be a million miles off the top 6. Oh and a stop to embarrassing cup defeats would be good aswell!

given some of the hiding some teams have taken this season especially considering the amount of money those teams have spent on players I think we need to give some credit to the entire management staff at Villa for improving us as much as they have. Nobody has given us a hiding this season and we've played all of the big teams. This was the biggest issue in the summer and for the most part it has been fixed. We aren something like 8 or 9th best defence in the league now.

Obviously the next steps are to improve the home form which in turn will bridge the gap to the teams 6th to 9th. With the right investment this is very achievable. We are going in the right direction even if sometimes we take a step or two back to go forward. But that comes with a squad and club in transition that is developing an identity. We're developing something positive at the club even if we've had take a few on the chin to get there.

Losing 4 - 1 to Sturke is a hiding

I hope you didn't bump into anything or urinate yourself in your rush to point that out.

[PaulWinch again]

I'm sorry but that performance was absolutely insipid and the 'tactical plan' was equally clueless. We're not safe yet if we turn in performances like that.

[ChicagoLion]

Problem there though is that once we're into the summer, he'll have one year left. If we didn't extend his contract, the media start speculating, the players start to wonder what's going on and any potential signing has to ask whether the manager's staying. I agree that it was premature when word about the new contract broke but barring a disastrous last 9 games, I don't think they've got any choice at this point.

I think the issue for me is length, I think another 3 years is pretty generous given some of the hidings we've taken. I'd give him another two years and then have a third year dependent on sufficient league progress.

I was wavering a few weeks back but the two contrasting home wins has got him back in credit. Hopefully we don't go back to the turgid rubbish against a physical team like Stoke tomorrow.

Now I think we'll see over the next 12 months how good a manager Lambert could be or if mid table in the premier league is his glass ceiling.

In terms of squad numbers we are fine so we don't need another 7-8 cheap punts. If finances allow we need 3-4 quality players in and above all some midfield creativity!!

He might also be faced with having to replace a key player in his reign for the first time if Benteke leaves. As we've seen in the last 4 years that isn't an easy thing to do.

Targets for next season? Hopefully we can push on a bit and be in the group with Newcastle and Southampton and not being 13 points off them. At least then we wouldn't be a million miles off the top 6. Oh and a stop to embarrassing cup defeats would be good aswell!

given some of the hiding some teams have taken this season especially considering the amount of money those teams have spent on players I think we need to give some credit to the entire management staff at Villa for improving us as much as they have. Nobody has given us a hiding this season and we've played all of the big teams. This was the biggest issue in the summer and for the most part it has been fixed. We aren something like 8 or 9th best defence in the league now.

Obviously the next steps are to improve the home form which in turn will bridge the gap to the teams 6th to 9th. With the right investment this is very achievable. We are going in the right direction even if sometimes we take a step or two back to go forward. But that comes with a squad and club in transition that is developing an identity. We're developing something positive at the club even if we've had take a few on the chin to get there.

Losing 4 - 1 to Sturke is a hiding

I hope you didn't bump into anything or urinate yourself in your rush to point that out.

Well what do you expect with a lack of bosom availability?

[eastie]

We will be safe but is safety really the ambition season after season nowadays?

[ChicagoLion]

We will be safe but is safety really the ambition season after season nowadays?

With this Owner and Manager yes, this is about as good as it will get.

[SoccerHQ]

I have to say it does not reflect well on his management that in his time here we annually follow up a great result with a terrible set of results/performances.

What does he do during the week, does he give extra days off to the squad as a reward, do we lose focus as the training is more relaxed as the intensity just disappears?

It's what seperates the bog standard managers from the good ones so he needs to learn during the summer how to follow up a great result with a consistant run of form next season.

[ez]

I think we'll finish higher than last season but i don't see our points total being a lot more.

[London Villan]

There was no leadership today from the bench. In the second half he just hid next to his bored looking mate.

[ez]

There was no leadership today from the bench. In the second half he just hid next to his bored looking mate.

That's what i don't understand. We've come back from behind before. Today we didn't even try.